honest opinion of commentary

spanky79

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I want honest opinions of my commentary.

I know sometimes its is not always strictly on the match we get side tracked and talk to the chat alot, but is it good, entertaining, at least tolerable.

thanks in advance
 
I am pretty new to the online pool community and have only watched a few streams, mostly TAR ones from DCC. That being said one of the hardest things for me is that no one uses their names! So I have no clue who you are, and if you were doimg commentary for DCC and told me your name that wouldn't help either.

The commentators should be tellinf the viewers their names at keast every other set. You want your name to be known, not "the guy who seems to love cobbler as much as pool".

If guests come up to the booth introduce them with a little background. One stream i listened to, te commentator said the he was trying to get either a Jeff or Bill to help him out in the booth. Then a new voice started talking without any mention of who it was.

Just a newcomers opinion. Don't rely on chat to fill in blanks for you as not everyone watching can or does read the chat.
 
I want honest opinions of my commentary.

I know sometimes its is not always strictly on the match we get side tracked and talk to the chat alot, but is it good, entertaining, at least tolerable.

thanks in advance

Spanky you do a great job filling in on some of the streams. TAR would have been hardpressed to broadcast without you. You have a good stream voice. As you know i've recommended you for jobs because I think you're a solid citizen. I"ve also critiqued you work. So from yesterday my critique list.

1) slobering (in a nice way) but still slobering over certain players. After you say their unbelieveably great for the 100th time it sort of loses it's affect. Less is more.

2) Tend to step on what your cohost is saying. Let them go with their complete thoughts. You jump in way too fast to affirm their thoughts continually. You don't need to be Ed McMahon. Let them have their own space and thoughts.

3) And of course you know what i think about chat interaction by commentators.

It's a learning process and you're doing fine.
 
Spanky you do a great job filling in on some of the streams. TAR would have been hardpressed to broadcast without you. You have a good stream voice. As you know i've recommended you for jobs because I think you're a solid citizen. I"ve also critiqued you work. So from yesterday my critique list.

1) slobering (in a nice way) but still slobering over certain players. After you say their unbelieveably great for the 100th time it sort of loses it's affect. Less is more.

2) Tend to step on what your cohost is saying. Let them go with their complete thoughts. You jump in way too fast to affirm their thoughts continually. You don't need to be Ed McMahon. Let them have their own space and thoughts.

3) And of course you know what i think about chat interaction by commentators.

It's a learning process and you're doing fine.

Thanks Mike,
I noticed a couple of those things yesterday.
I tried to stop, sometimes its hard to tell when someone is done.
The point about he chat, I understand it and agree on curtain streams.
Tar has been interacting with the chat from the start and I think it is a hard thing to stop once you start.

Keep them coming guys,
thanks again
 
I'm not sure start up the stream now and i'll listen in :P

Seriously I think you did a pretty good job. Maybe give a little more background info on the players when you can. That is what i often find lacking on the streams you generally get some but i'd like to see more.
 
I think you did a terrific job.

Before I throw in my .02 cents let me just say that I really, really appreciate TAR and Justin's efforts to bring us these streams and everyone who helps out. It is awesome beyond words to be able to sit at home and actually watch a great tournament like the Swanee online! So, a huge thanks to everyone who makes it possible!

Here are the aspects that I really want in a stream commentator (others may disagree):

1. Stay focused, mostly at least, on the match being shown. If you have an interesting or colorful guest in the booth from the pool world I think stories are great, but otherwise try not to get so sidetracked that we go a half hour before anyone says anything about the match that is actually being streamed. I love to hear the drama of the match itself reflected in the commentary.

2. Update us when possible. Keep us up to date with the score of the match being streamed, preferably by keeping the score up to date on the screen. And, although I know this is much less feasible, any updates you can give on other matches in progress, what big names are still in the tournament, who is still on the winner's side, scores of significant matches played earlier, etc., would be great.

3. When possible, answer questions from the folks in the chat. I know you get hundreds of questions, most of them not worth addressing, but sometimes when you are having an interesting pool-related conversation in the booth or something important happens in the match the folks watching on the stream have relevant and interesting questions, and it would be great if you could just keep an eye out for those.

Those are my suggestions. Having said this, I can add that I would tune in to watch the streams even if there was no commentary and no updates at all, and the guy in the booth sat there and read a label off of a cereal box.

And just to reiterate, I thought you did an excellent job and I know there are a whole slew of folks out here like me who really appreciate your work and the work of everyone involved in helping to bring us great tournaments like the Swanee, so keep up the good work!
 
good job

I thought you did well. I left my sound on the whole time. I enjoy a side story now and then.
 
Spanky,

You do an awesome job in the booth. Listening to yourself is one of the best ways to get better.

I'm not sure what kind of setup TAR has, but announcers need headphones to hear each other. This eliminates a lot of the "talking over each other".

I give Spanky 2 thumbs up overall. :thumbup:

Ray
 
Spanky my man, you're a pleasure to work with! I find you very competent and knowledgeable, plus being a generous co-host. I never felt like you were talking too much or over me. Probably the reverse is true. :smile:
I wouldn't ask you to change a thing! :thumbup:

P.S. I also enjoyed working with Melissa Herndon for part of one match, before I was called to play.
 
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Spanky-

I didn't watch the stream yesterday.

I have heard you b4 on TAR and Big Truck streams. You do a good job. I like the fact that you know many of the local players, and that familiarity adds flavor and substance to the commentary.

Thanks for your efforts and your time.

PS: I read that they brot in "food' in the evening. I had the microwave hamburger in the late afternoon. That's a bad roll-I ate too soon.

Keep up the good work.:thumbup:

Take care
 
Spanky my man, you're a pleasure to work with! I find you very competent and knowledgeable, plus being a generous co-host. I never felt like you were talking too much or over me. Probably the reverse is true. :smile:
I wouldn't ask you to change a thing! :thumbup:

P.S. I also enjoyed working with Melissa Herndon for part of one match, before I was called to play.

Thanks Jay. As I told you yesterday...I really had a great time commentating with you. We had a pretty natural flow going...and I wish we could have done a couple more matches together. Next time!

Melissa
 
Spanky, I think you spend way too much time commenting on the chat.
If I'm watching two world class players I expect the commentary to be at that level.
Perhaps it would help if you did a little research before a match and find out:
have they played before? What was the outcome? Have they gambled? How have they done against any common opponents? What are the strengths of the players?
This would be great background info that would bring drama to the match. Then, during the match it would be nice if you would stay focused on what's happening on the table instead of constantly saying "Wuzz Up?" to the chatters.
If you are serious about being a commentator spend some time watching Billie on Accustats.
 
Perhaps watch a few broadcasts of tennis matches. Great commentary there.

Poolbum: You are spot on!

Primary focus should be the match and info about matches.
 
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